The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-12-23

sentatives of the people to cleverly put
themselves in the way of what may be
the only action of CONGRESSMAN en-
aollng act for one state which. if de-
clded on at all was decided on long
before the Aberdeen call was issued.
***
| This brings me to Springer's letter
which was introduced into the conyen-
tlon at time when all the carefully
laid plans of "Ordway" Johnson seemed
IN danger of being wrecked by the
peryersity of several delegates who OBJ
jected to the prearranged slate. This
letter was accepted as pledge from
the house Of representatives that an
enabling act will surely be passed at
this session. and of course was enthu-
slastically received by the CON
vention. But will it bear any such
construction? Read it carefully,
along the lines and between the
lines. 1t bears marks of the most care
ful preparation, a9d is evidently in
tended to imply more than it actually
commits itself to. Itindulgcs in gilt
tering generalities on the greatness of
Dakota; it says she ought to be state;
it compares her present status with
that of the older states, and argues
with narrowest injustice that because
Dakota has but 6oo, 900 people to their
millions, now, she is to discount the
wondrous possibilities of her future,
and forever cut herself off from her
proper representation in the councils
of the nation. Garry that logic to its
natural sequence and apply it to Dele
ware with less than 10000, or Rhode
Island, or Oregon, or Colorado, or Ne
yada, and see where it will bring you.
His suggestion that state can divide
herself after admission is mere sub
terfuge. The same argument of ten
porary expediency which is being used
now with no little force would still
prevail.
~
Springer's letter is clear on one point
alone. He opposes division. But if
any friend of admission as whole will
point out to me single word, sentence
or clause from the beginning to the
end of this crafty production that says
the democratic house will pass an en-
abling act, or that Mr.. Springer will
introduce or work for one, or which
pledges that party or that individual
to do anything for Dakota at this ses-
sion of congress, I will agree not only
to throw up the division sponge, but
to devote what energies may have to
seconding such action.
***
But why continue this discussion. l
have favored division because L be-
lieved it would prove the best thing
not only for south Dakota, but for
north Dakota and the entire northwest.
J. believe III building for the future as
well as for the immediate present. Yet
/ am not blind to the fact that admis-
sion as whole is the only thing to
reasonably expect from the present
congress, and am frank to say that
there are large number of honest Gi-
visionists who are beginning to feel that
statehood in any shape is preferable to
a continued territorial condition. There
is some force in the argument of Win
| sor of Sioux Falls, who says he lived
in Wisconsin when she WAS territory,
that he went into the army before he
was of age, that he came thence to Da-
kota, and that he would like to leave
as heritage to his children the fact
that he had once voted for president
of these United States.
*x*
But his argument does not meet the
present situation. Were we admitted
under an enabling act from the pres
ent congress, he would not be allowed
to vote at the coming presidential cleo
tion, and if we are not admitted now,
50 sure as there is God in Israel the
next administration and the next house
of representatives, if they are republi-
can, will divide and admit Dakota, Civ
ing her vote double weight in presi-
Dental elections; and if still democrat
ic, will no longer have any reason for
delaying that admission.
IL ~
The Dawson county delegation was
one of the best in the entire conyen'
, ton, and its members had full weight
not only in the deliberations after or
panization, but in the more important
, preliminary work. The fact thai
Messrs. Lawler, Rowley and Mcbride
! we're early on the ground had much te
, do with their subsequent standing
while the counsels of Mr.. Preston
standing, as believe he does, squarel5
and honestly in his change OF opinion
did much to keep matters in thell
proper channel, and prevented an,
breaks in the framing of the memorial
*.x
0 The individual members OF The deie
8 cation were we'll recognized; MI. Pres
4 ton to as temporary chairman; Mr., GoodS
koontz on the memorial committee
f Mr. Lawler to help select the Washing
8 ton delegation, and Mr.. Mcbride a
{ one member of that delegation iron
this judicial district.
o ~
IS The makeup of that washington